Ballmark repair tool

ABSTRACT

A ballmark repair tool for repairing marks left by the impact of a golf ball on turf. The ballmark repair tool includes a handle portion, a shovel portion, and a button. The shovel portion extends from the handle portion. The shovel portion is oriented at an obtuse angle with respect to the handle portion. The shovel portion is curved to at least partially conform to an outer surface of a golf ball. The shovel portion has a pair of tines extending therefrom. The button is removably attachable to the handle portion.

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] The present application is a continuation-in-part of U.S.application Ser. No. 09/670,752, which was filed on Sep. 27, 2000, andwhich is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. The presentapplication also claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No.60/156,254, which was filed on Sep. 27, 1999, and which is incorporatedherein in its entirety by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates to accessories for the game ofgolf. More particularly, the present invention relates to devices forthe maintenance of golf green surfaces.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] One of the primary objects when playing golf is to convey a golfball from a tee region on a given hole into a hole for that hole in thefewest strokes. As such, it is desirable to hit a golf ball directlyfrom the tee region onto the green that surrounds the hole.

[0004] The green is made from a grass variety that permits the grass tobe maintained at a very low height. Maintaining the grass on the greenat a very low height enhances the ability for a golfer to accuratelyroll the golf ball along the surface of the green.

[0005] When a golf ball lands directly on the green, the golf ball oftenforms an indentation in the green proximate to where the golf ballstrikes the green. Such an indentation impedes the ability of a golferto accurately roll the golf ball along the surface of the green andthereby has the potential to detrimentally affect the performance ofgolfers who subsequently use the course.

[0006] To reduce this potentially detrimental affect, golfers typicallyendeavor to remove the indentation or at least reduce the size of theindentation using a ballmark repair tool. The ballmark repair tool ispushed into the grass proximate the indentation to lift up the grass andthe soil underlying the grass to thereby remove or reduce the size ofthe indentation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The present invention relates to a ballmark repair tool forrepairing marks left by the impact of a golf ball on turf. The ballmarkrepair tool includes a handle portion, a shovel portion, and a button.The shovel portion extends from the handle portion. The shovel portionis oriented at an obtuse angle with respect to the handle portion. Theshovel portion has a pair of tines extending therefrom. The button isremovably attachable to the handle portion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a ballmark repair tool of thepresent invention.

[0009]FIG. 2 is a top planform view of the ballmark repair tool.

[0010]FIG. 3 is a bottom planform view of the ballmark repair tool.

[0011]FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the ballmark repair toolinserted into a ground surface adjacent a divot.

[0012]FIG. 5 is a handle end elevational view of the ballmark repairtool.

[0013]FIG. 6 is a tine end elevational view of the ballmark repair tool.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0014] An embodiment of the present invention relates to a ballmarkrepair tool, as illustrated at 10 in the figures. The ballmark repairtool 10 has two major sub-components: a handle portion 12 and a shovelportion 14.

[0015] The handle portion 12 is defined by spaced-apart side margins 16,18 and end margin 20. The side margins 16, 18 are angled inward from theend margin 20 to the shovel portion 14. The end margin 20 preferably isan arc segment of a circle that may be between 90 degrees and 270degrees of a full circle.

[0016] In a preferred embodiment, a bore 22 (depicted in phantom inFIGS. 4 and 5) extends through the handle portion 12. The bore 22 isadapted to receive a shank portion 24 (depicted in phantom in FIG. 5) ofa button 26. The button 26 preferably has a substantially flat outwardlydirected surface 30.

[0017] The outwardly directed face 30 of the button 26 preferably has anindicia 31 printed thereon. The indicia 31 may include a company orindividual's name or a logo. In an alternative embodiment, a company orindividual's name or a logo may be embossed or printed directly on thesurface of the handle portion 12. Alternatively, the button 26 may bebonded directly to the upper surface 32 of the handle portion 12.

[0018] The handle portion 12 preferably includes a grommet 28 that atleast partially seats within the bore 22. The shank portion 24 extendsthrough an aperture in the grommet 28. The grommet 28 is preferablyfabricated from a resilient material that permits the grommet 28 todeform when the shank portion 24 is extended through the grommet 28 tothereby retain the button 26 in a fixed position with respect to thehandle portion 12.

[0019] Removably attaching the button 26 to the handle portion 12 allowsthe button 26 to be readily separated from handle portion 12 such thatthe button 26 may be used to mark a location of a golf ball. Removablyattaching the button 26 to the handle portion 12 also reduces thelikelihood that the button 26 will be lost when the button 26 is notbeing used.

[0020] The handle portion 12 is oriented at an angle a with respect tothe shovel portion 14, as most clearly illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 4. Theangle α is preferably an obtuse angle and more preferably the angle α isbetween 140 degrees and 175 degrees.

[0021] The shovel portion 14 includes two spaced apart tines 36 a, 36 b.The tines 36 a, 36 b are defined by outer margins 38 a, 38 b and innermargins 40 a, 40 b. The two inner margins 40 a, 40 b intersect at apoint 42 to define a V shape. Each of the two tines 36 a, 36 b has agenerally pointed distal end 44 a, 44 b. A spacing between the tines 36a, 36 b is preferably about 0.20 inches. The tines 36 a, 36 b preferablyeach have a length of about 1 inch.

[0022] The shovel portion 14 is preferably curved in the same directionthat the shovel portion 14 is angled with respect to the handle portion12, as most clearly illustrated in FIG. 4. The shovel portion 14 iscurved to at least partially conform to an outer surface of a golf ball58. A radius of curvature of the shovel portion 14 is greater than aboutone centimeter and preferably greater than about two centimeters.

[0023] The curve of the shovel portion 14 enables the shovel portion 14to conform to a surface of a divot 60. The curved shovel 14 therebyenables the compressed turf in the divot 60 to be evenly lifted. Byevenly lifting the compressed turf in the divot 60 tearing of the turfduring the lifting process is substantially eliminated.

[0024] This process thereby enables the greens to be maintained moreeasily than with prior art ballmark repair tools. Additionally, usingthe ballmark repair tool 10 with the curved shovel portion 14 enables aperson to more easily use the ballmark repair tool 10 as the person'shand is further away from a ground surface 62 so as to reduce thepotential of the person's hand becoming dirty from contact with theground surface 62.

[0025] The tool 10 is fabricated from a material that provides the tool10 with sufficient structural rigidity such that the tines 36 a, 36 bresist bending when inserted into the turf to remove an indentation inthe turf. Preferably, the tool 10 is fabricated from brass having astrength of about 75. Fabricating the ballmark repair tool from brassenables the ballmark repair to be made relatively thin while beingsufficiently strong to resist deformation during use. Fabricating theballmark repair tool from brass also enables the handle portion 12 tomaintain the angular orientation with respect to the shovel portion 14as well as to maintain the curved configuration of the shovel portion14. A person of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the tool10 may also be fabricated from plastic such as by injection molding.

[0026] An overall length of the tool 10 is preferably less than 6 inchesand more preferably about 3 inches to facilitate storing of the tool 12in a portion of the clothing worn by a user so that the tool 12 may bereadily accessed for use.

[0027] In operation, a user grasps the handle portion 12 of the tool 10.The shovel portion 14 is inserted under the turf in and around aballmark on a golf course green. Downward pressure is exerted on thehandle portion 12 and the shovel portion 14 acts to lift the pushed upturf to a level disposition. The process refills the mark left by theimpact of the golf ball. The angular orientation of the handle portion12 with respect to the shovel portion 14 reduces the likelihood that aportion of the user's hand will contact the turf when using the tool 10.

[0028] When it is desired to mark the location of the user's golf ball,the user urges the button 26 away from the handle portion 12 until theshank portion 24 is pulled out of the grommet 28. The button 26 is thenplaced on the green adjacent to the location of the user's golf ballsuch that the golf ball may be removed from the green such as when it isdesired to clean the golf ball or when the golf ball is positionedproximate to the desired path of another golf ball. The shank portion 24extends into the turf to enhance the likelihood that the button 26 willremain in the desired location.

[0029] Thereafter, the golf ball is placed adjacent the button 26 on thegreen and the button 26 is picked up. The shank portion 24 is insertedthrough the grommet 28 to removably fasten the button 26 to the handleportion 12 to reduce the likelihood that the button 26 will be misplaceduntil it is desired to use the button 26 again.

[0030] The tool 10 of the present invention is also useful for removingmaterial that becomes embedded around spikes on shoes worn by the user.The user grasps the handle portion 12 and slides the shovel portion 14along a lower surface of the user's shoe. A spacing between the tines 36a, 36 b permits the spike to pass between the tines 36 a, 36 b whileremoving material that is embedded on either side of the spike.

[0031] It is contemplated that features disclosed in this application,as well as those described in the above applications incorporated byreference, can be mixed and matched to suit particular circumstances.Various other modifications and changes will be apparent to those ofordinary skill.

1. A ballmark repair tool for repairing marks left by the impact of agolf ball on turf, the ballmark repair tool comprising: a handleportion; a shovel portion extends from the handle portion, wherein theshovel portion is oriented at an obtuse angle with respect to the handleportion, wherein the shovel portion is curved to at least partiallyconform to an outer surface of the golf ball, and wherein the shovelportion has a pair of tines extending therefrom; and a button removablyattachable to the handle portion.
 2. The ballmark repair tool of claim1, wherein a radius of curvature of the shovel portion is greater thanabout one centimeter.
 3. The ballmark repair tool of claim 1, whereinthe obtuse angle is between 140 degrees and 175 degrees.
 4. The ballmarkrepair tool of claim 1, wherein a spacing between the tines is about0.20 inches.
 5. The ballmark repair tool of claim 1, wherein the tineseach have a length of about 1 inch.
 6. The ballmark repair tool of claim1, wherein the handle portion has a bore formed therein, wherein thebutton has a shank portion extending therefrom, and wherein extendingthe shank portion through the bore enables the button to be removablyattached to the handle portion.
 7. The ballmark repair tool of claim 6,and further comprising a grommet that seats at least partially in thebore, wherein the shank portion extends through an aperture in thegrommet when the button is removably attached to the handle portion. 8.The ballmark repair tool of claim 7, wherein the grommet is fabricatedfrom a resilient material.
 9. The ballmark repair tool of claim 1,wherein the button has indicia formed thereon.
 10. The ballmark repairtool of claim 1, wherein the handle portion, the shovel portion, and thebutton are fabricated from a metallic or plastic material.
 11. Aballmark repair tool for repairing marks left by the impact of a golfball on turf, the ballmark repair tool comprising: a handle portionhaving a bore formed therein a shovel portion extends from the handleportion, wherein the shovel portion is oriented at an obtuse angle withrespect to the handle portion, wherein the shovel portion is curved toat least partially conform to an outer surface of the golf ball, andwherein the shovel portion has a pair of tines extending therefrom; agrommet has an aperture extending therethrough, wherein the grommet atleast partially seats in the bore; and a button has a shank portionextending therefrom, wherein the button is removably attachable to thehandle portion by extending the shank portion through the aperture. 12.The ballmark repair tool of claim 11, wherein a radius of curvature ofthe shovel portion is greater than about one centimeter.
 13. Theballmark repair tool of claim 11, wherein the obtuse angle is between140 degrees and 175 degrees.
 14. The ballmark repair tool of claim 11,wherein a spacing between the tines is about 0.20 inches.
 15. Theballmark repair tool of claim 11, wherein the tines each have a lengthof about 1 inch.
 16. The ballmark repair tool of claim 11, wherein thegrommet is fabricated from a resilient material.
 17. The ballmark repairtool of claim 11, wherein the button has indicia formed thereon.
 18. Theballmark repair tool of claim 11, wherein the handle portion, the shovelportion, and the button are fabricated from a metallic or plasticmaterial.